Toy of the ball and runway type



April 5, 1949. M. P. MARONG TOY OF THE BALL AND RUNWAY TYPE I Filed April 18, 1947 Inventoi Michael P Marong Patented Apr. 5, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in toys of the ball and runway type, the primary object in view being to provide a simple form of toy in which a ball may be caused to roll along an irregular runway in a frame, and cross over said frame, by manipulation of the frame in a manner such that the ball is kept in the runway under the action of centrifugal force.

Another object is to provide a toy of the class described in which a runway frame is adapted for manipulation in Sliding engagement with a table, floor, or the like, to pick up a. ball in the runway and cause the same to roll along said runway.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toy of the class described in which a runway frame is adapted for manipulation in sliding engagement with a table, floor or the like, to pick up a ball in the runway and cause the same to roll along said runway.

Another object is to provide a toy of the class indicated which is fascinating and interesting, does not require a great deal of dexterity to properly manipulate the same, and is inexpensive to manufacture.

To the accomplishment of the above, and subordinate objects presently appearing, the preferred embodiment of my invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, set forth in detail in the succeeding description, and defined in the claims appended hereto.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in plan of my improved toy in the preferred embodiment thereof;

Figure 2 is a view in longitudinal section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a View in transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing by numerals, according to my invention, as illustrated, a toy is provided comprising a manipulative frame I of any suitable size and material, and which has the form of a figure eight, with two broken circle loops 2 of concavo-convex cross-section and channel sides thereof facing inwardly of said frame to form an internal figure eight runway 3 around said frame.

In the transverse center of the frame I, the opposite side edges 4 thereof are extended inwardly to form angular extensions 5 of said edges engaging at the apices thereof on each side of the longitudinal center of the frame with the apices of the extensions 5 on the other side of said longitudinal center, whereby the runway 3 is 2 bridged in the transverse and longitudinal center of said frame.

A U-shaped handle 6 straddles the frame I crosswise thereof in the transverse center of the same with handle rods 1 extending through the bight of said handle longitudinally of the frame I and equidistantly upon opposite sides of said handle 6.

A ball 8 of steel, or any other suitable heavy material, is provided to fit in the runway 33.

In using the described toy, the frame I is preferably placed fiat on a table, floor, or the like, not shown, with the handle side uppermost and the ball 8 in one of the loops 2. Then, by grasping the handle 6, or handle rod I, whichever may be most convenient, the frame I is manipulated with a sliding movement to pick up the ball 8 in the race way 3, and then manipulated with a rotary and lengthwise movement to cause the ball 8 to travel along the runway 3 the ball being held therein under the action of centrifugal force. By such movement of the frame I, the ball 8 may be caused to cross over the frame I by way of the bridge formed by the extensions 5. After the ball 8 has been started, the frame I may be picked up and similarly manipulated in mid-air to cause the ball 8 to follow along the runway 3 with said frame I held upright, horizontal or at various angles. The handle I5 and handle rod 1 provide for selective grips whereby the position of the hand relative to the frame I may be changed, as desired, in manipulating said frame. As an optional procedure, the ball may be started in one loop 2 by placing the same in the runway 3 with the frame I held in mid-air and caused to travel around the runway 3 by the described manipulation of said frame.

As will be obvious, the described frame I may be easily manipulated to cause the ball 8 to roll around the runway 3 in a figure eight path lying 'in various planes, according to the way in which the frame I is tilted during manipulation thereof. No great amount of dexterity is required to manipulate the frame I, but, just suflicient to render the toy interesting as regards successful operation of the same.

The foregoing will, it is believed, sufilce to impart a clear understanding of my invention, without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification, without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new is:

1. In a toy of the class described, a manipulative frame having a continuous internal open runway therein having the shape of a figure eight, a ball fitting in said runway and adapted to be caused to roll along said runway in a path conforming to the shape of the runway through manipulation of the frame, the ball being held in said runway under the action of centrifugal force, and a handle on said frame for manipulating the same, said runway being provided with continuous sides widened in the transverse center of the runway and engaging upon opposite sides of said runway to form a pair of cross over bridges at opposite sides of the runway between which the ball may roll.

2. In a toy of the class described, a manipulae tive frame having a continuous internally open runway therein having the shape of a figure eight,

force, and a handle on said frame for manipulating the same, said frame having edges at the sides of said runway provided in the transverse center of said frame with angular extensions engaging in pairs at the apices thereof upon opposite sides of said runway and forming a pair of opposed cross over bridges in the transverse and longitudinal center of the frame upon opposite sides of said runway. I

MICHAEL P. MARONG.

REFERENCES CITED The "following. references are .of record in the file of this patent:

STATES PATENTS Name Date Borek Apr. 23, 1940 Vollbrecht May 14, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Number I 2,198,075 2,200,684;

Number Date Great Britain Mar. 1, 1938 

